The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-22

mark the end of this European ex-
perience with the tariff of 1916, which
for time gave an illusory and decep-
tive show Of prosperity. Its enact
ment was Immediately followed by
the Mexican war; then in 1848 by
the great convulsions of Europe; then
in 1S49 and succeeding years by the
enormous gold yield in California.
The powers made peace in 1856 and
at the same time the output Of gold
in California fell of. Immediately
the financial panic of 1857 came upon
the country with disastrous force.
Though we had in these years mind a
vast amount Of gold in California,
every bank in New York was COM
PEELED to suspend specie payment.
Four hundred millions in gold had
been carried out Of the country in
eight years to pay for foreign goods
that should have been manufactured
at home, and we had years Of depress-
ion and distress as an atonement for
our folly.
'It is remarkable that President
Polk recommended the tariff Of 1846
on precisely the same ground that
President Cleveland recommends a
similar enactment now, namely, the
surplus in the treasury was menacing
the prosperity of the country. His
tory is repeating itself. By the way" :"
Mr. Blaine added, after a moments
reflection, 1T is for notice that Mr..
Polk insisted on emptying the
treasury by a free trade tariff, then
Immediately rushed the country into
debt by borrowing $150,OO0,000 for
the Mexican war. I trust nothing
may occur to repeat so disastrous a
sequel to the policy recommended by
President Cleveland. But the uniform
fate has been for fifty years past that
the Democratic party when it goes
out Of power always leaves an empty
treasury, and when it returns to power
always finds full treasury"
''Then do you mean to imply that
there should be no reduction Of the
national revenue?"
mo, what | have said implies the
reverse. I would reduce it by a
prompt repeal Of the tobacco tax and
would make here and there some
changes in the tariff. not to reduce
protection, but wisely foster it. -
II mean," said Mr.. Blaine, "that no
great system Of revenue like our tariff
can operate with efficiency and equity
unless the changes of trade be closely
watched and the law promptly adapt
ed to those changes. But | would
make no change that should impair
the protective character of the whole
body of the tariff laws. Four years
ago, in the act Of 1883, we made
changes Of the character [ have tried
to indicate. If such changes were
made, and the fortifying Of our sea
coast thus undertaken at very
moderate annual outlay, no surplus
would be found after that already
accumulated had been disposed of.
The outlay of money on Notifications,
while doing great service to the
country, would give good work to
many men"
"But what about the existing
surplusg"
"The abstract Of the message have
seen," replied Mr. Blaine, contains
no reference to that point. | there
fore make no comment further than
to indorse Mr.. Fred Grants remark
that a. surplus is always easier to
handle than deficit. ~
The reporter repeated the question
whether the Presidents recommends
ton would not, if adopted, give us the
advantage Of large increase in ex-
ports. Il only repeat" answered Mr..
Blaine, ''that it would vastly enlarge
our imports, while the only export it
would seriously increase would be our
gold and silver. That would flow out
bounteously, just as it did under the
tariff Of 1916. The Presidents recon-
mendation enacted into law would
result, as did an experiment in drain
age of man who wished to turn
swamp into productive field. He
dug a train to a neighboring river,
but it happened, unfortunately, that
the level Of the river was higher than
the level of the swamp. The conse-
quence need not be told. A parallel
would be found when the Presidents
policy in attempting to open channel
for an increase Of exports should
simply succeed in making way for a
deluging inflow Of fabrics to the de-
of home industry"
''But don't you think it important
TO increase our export trade?'
"Undoubtedly; but it is vastly
more important not to lose our own
great market for our own people in a
vain effort to reach the impossible. It
is not our foreign trade that has caus-
ed the wonderful growth and expan-
sion of the republic. 1t is our vast
domestic trade between thirty-eight
states, eight territories, with a popu-
lation Of perhaps 100000 to-day.
The whole amount of our export and
import trade together never, | think,
reached S1,900,000,O0O any one year.
Our internal home trade on 10000
miles of railway, along $4,000 miles
Of ocean coast, over the five great
lakes and along 10000 miles of
navigable rivers reaches the enormous
annual aggregate Of more than $40,
o00,000,000 and perhaps this year
$50, ,000,000,000. 1t is into this
Illimitable trade, even now in its
infancy and destined to attain a mag
nitude not dreamed of twenty years
ago, that Europeans are struggling to
enter. It is the heritage of the
American people, Of their children
and Of their children's children. It
gives an absolutely free trade over
territory nearly as large as all Europe,
and profit all our own. The genuine
free trader appears unable to see or
that this continental
not our exchanges with Europe-is
the great source of our prosperity.